13th April 2025

Sunday, 13th April: A bit of a change, with more cloud today, though still reasonably bright and remaining dry, with the wind having shifted to the SW 3-4.

Elmer: The clear highlight this morning was finding a Hoopoe locally, which I believe to be the first confirmed record for the Middleton-on-Sea Parish. Whilst not entirely unexpected, given a small influx to the country, it is still a very scarce migrant in this area, not occurring annually. The circumstances of the finding were a little unusual though...

I set off from home at about 07:40 to cycle the few minutes to the local beach this morning on my usual route, via Ancton Way, on the Elmer Sands estate, on a still Sunday morning, when it was all very calm with not a soul around. I'd only gone a few hundred yards when I heard a distinctive 'Oop, oop, oop' call a few times. "Sounds like a Hoopoe" I said to myself, "but don't be silly, must be a small dog or something". But no, by now it was loud and clear - it certainly DID sound like a Hoopoe, causing me to stop in my tracks. 

I listened and the call continued awhile. The row of houses here are backed by a thick wood of mature trees and I was frantically scanning to try and locate the source of the call, when suddenly it flew, giving a very brief glimpse of a Hoopoe before disappearing....only for the call to continue but somewhat softer, obviously from some distance away. 

"When have you ever heard a migrant Hoopoe call like this," I thought, "so I need to see it better to prove it". A bit of a panic ensued, so I played a hunch and headed for the beach to overlook the small area of set-aside behind. On arrival - nothing - then just as one of the locals wanted a chat, I saw it in flight, having apparently just come up from the set-aside. It flew west over the wood and was lost to view again. I put messages out to other local birders and lots of searching then followed, before I briefly saw it in flight again. This time it was heading back to the wooded area! To cut the long story short, I failed to get a photo, but fortunately other birders also eventually saw it briefly, just to the east, on the Climping side.

There wasn't much of any note regarding other species, though several Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, a Mistle Thrush, a few Linnets and two Buzzards were seen.

Rabbit and Hoopoe in Cudlow's field, Climping (with thanks to local birder Bola Akinola). This is quite probably the same bird as I saw, having been found in an area adjacent to my last sighting, however given the influx of the species this spring, it's just possible it is another individual.

11th - 12th April 2025

Saturday, 12th April: A bit more cloud this morning, although still generally bright and sunny through the day, with a moderate breeze E4, becoming more SE later.

Bilsham farm: On the reservoir this morning were two Egyptian Geese and half a dozen Mute Swans, together with 12 Tufted Ducks, four Gadwall, four Mallard and two Little Grebes, and a Swallow flying over.

Egyptian Geese on Bilsham reservoir

This evening, at an undisclosed location, a Short-eared Owl showed fairly well before dusk, albeit distantly, giving nice scope views. Also located were three Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and two Cetti's Warblers, plus a Yellowhammer.

Distant views of the Short-eared Owl

Friday, 11th April: Just a hint of frost with another cold start, but soon warming up due to a much lighter breeze today. Generally bright and sunny, with some haziness offshore, but feeling pleasantly warm in just a light NE - SE breeze, 1-2.

Elmer Rocks: As nice as it may be, the benign weather and prolonged settled conditions often don't make for the best birding, with many incoming migrants passing over high and unseen, not needing to seek rest along the coast....as was the case today really. There was next to nothing of interest moving offshore and waders along the beach were the main interest; ten Turnstones and 14 Sanderlings were feeding before the tide rose, then a flock of 30 birds, apparently all Oystercatchers, flew in...but on closer scrutiny there was an odd one out, which subsequently proved to be a Whimbrel. A Common Seal was also fishing fairly close in.

A single Wheatear was on the beach as were four Linnets, with another pair of the latter carrying nest material into the long hedge. Around the hedgerows behind the beach there were a couple of singing Chiffchaffs, but precious little else except a single Blackcap and a Swallow which flew over.

This flock of Oystercatchers held one other species, which I considered probably a Whimbrel (seventh from right)  - and I was pleased to say I called it correctly, as this much enlarged image just about shows the downcurved bill!

and below, the Common Seal near the rock islands

Elmer & Ancton: A look around the horse paddocks area produced yet another Black Redstart for the spring, though this one was not very co-operative most of the time. Also present were the pair of Pied Wagtails still collecting nest materials, whilst three Blackcaps and four Chiffchaffs were in the woods behind, and two Green Woodpeckers were coming and going. A Swallow - or perhaps two - was flying over the area, perhaps one of the local nesters returned?

Black Redstart at Lane End paddocks; this was elusive at times but eventually showed well enough to clinch it, though note the 'bleaching effect' of the strong sunlight on it's plumage.

8th - 10th April 2025

Thursday, 10th April: It was cold enough overnight for a touch of frost this morning, still with a chilly NE breeze force 3-4, but it gradually warmed up to give another bright, sunny and dry day, with some white cloud at times, with the wind veering more SE later.

Barnham Brooks - Shripney/Lidsey area: I was birding the Selsey Peninsula all morning and beyond, but on my return to the local area I called in for another look here, before heading for home. The small flooded areas that remain are drying up fast now, but eventually I managed to locate four Green Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Snipe around the margins. However, a combination of heat haze, distance and vegetation obscuring the view meant that viewing conditions were very challenging at times.

A dozen or more Lapwings were more conspicuous, whilst c.70 Teal, a pair of Shoveler, a dozen Mallard and two Shelduck were on the remaining water. Two Cetti's Warblers were singing, as were a few Chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps, but it was otherwise quiet and I left soon after. Other species nearby included a pair of Green Woodpeckers, a few Linnets and Greenfinches, a Kestrel and two Buzzards.

At the Lidsey/Shripney area this afternoon: (above) Green Woodpecker, (below) Teal on the remaining water - and there is actually a Green Sandpiper obscured in the vegetation (!) whilst below a rubbishy enlarged image of two Green Sandpipers gives some idea of the difficulty.

Tuesday, 8th April: A clear, dry and chilly start, with even a hint of frost, but soon becoming bright and sunny in a moderate NE breeze 3-4, which veered SE 3 later as conditions became more hazy.

Bilsham farm: A fairly short mid-afternoon visit to the reservoir, which again produced only the regular species, consisting of 12 Tufted Ducks, eight Shoveler, ten Mallard and two Little Grebes. Then a Red Kite appeared, drifting over the adjacent fields, before drifting away again when hampered by a local Buzzard. On my way back I was pleased to see three newly-arrived Swallows on the wires near the donkey paddocks and two Yellowhammers were in the hedgerows.

Red Kite over Bilsham farm and three Swallows near the donkey paddocks

5th - 7th April 2025

Monday, 7th April: High pressure still firmly in control, giving another very dry and sunny day, with little or no cloud, but still with a chilly edge to the brisk E/SE wind along the coast, though warm again in sheltered spots.

Elmer Rocks: Just an hour or so here for me this morning. There were four Gannets fishing way offshore around some fishing boats, whilst a couple of Sandwich Terns went east and a Great Crested Grebe was offshore. A Swallow arrived N from the sea, as did a Chiffchaff, the latter quickly dropping into a bush, whilst four Linnets were in the long hedgerow.  On and around the beach were 32 Turnstones and two Sanderlings, with 14 Oystercatchers moving back and forth.

A couple of Chiffchaffs were singing from the area around Poole Place and two rival Skylarks were singing above the set-aside areas.

Gannet at distance passing a fishing boat and (below) Oystercatchers moving east; they were back and forth several times today

Sanderling (above) and a flock of feeding Turnstones (below) on the outfall pipe

Barnham Brooks - Shripney/Lidsey area: With the prolonged very dry conditions, the remaining areas of flood around the fields are rapidly drying up, but even so I managed to locate at least four Green Sandpipers and a Snipe today. A dozen or more Lapwings were on territory, with some displaying, and wildfowl consisted of c.80 Teal, four Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, four Shelduck and four Gadwall. At least three Chiffchaffs were singing, three Cetti's Warblers were loudly proclaiming their territory and a male Reed Bunting was singing occasionally.

Sunday, 6th April: Very similar to yesterday; very dry, with continued sunshine and a cool, brisk E/SE wind, but feeling warm when sheltered from the breeze.

Elmer Rocks: As I arrived a Willow Warbler flew up from the beach, and dived straight into a tamarisk bush just behind me at the Kiosk. A look at the sea produced nothing more than four Sandwich Terns going east, a Great Crested Grebe offshore and a party of 21 Sanderlings which dropped onto the beach for a brief feed before moving on. Two Swallows then arrived N from the sea, then a newly arrived Wheatear was located, followed by several  unidentified 'Willow/Chiffs'

With my spirits lifted I then opted to check the fields and hedgerows behind, but nothing more exciting could be found.  My Willow Warbler count increased to at least six, whilst Chiffchaffs were in the majority with at least 15 logged, plus four Blackcaps and the same of Linnets, but that was about it.

Sanderlings and a Wheatear on Elmer beach

Elmer & Ancton: I concentrated mainly on the area around the Lane End paddocks and adjoining wood, but it was somewhat disappointing here too. Certainly there were new arrivals of some commoner species, but nothing much beyond the norm. At least six Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers were present, together with no less than five Blackcaps - a singing male of which had attracted the attention of at least two females, which followed him from bush to bush. A pair of Pied Wagtails are now nesting in one of the wooden horse shelters and were seen collecting horse hair and carrying beakfulls off to the nest site.

Pied Wagtail collecting nest material (horse hair) at Ancton paddocks

Saturday, 5th April: High pressure continues, with unbroken sunshine through the day and just a little high cloud, but also with a fairly strong wind which had swung back to the NE; feeling cool along the coast but pleasantly warm in sheltered spots.

I spent the morning well and truly off the patch at Medmerry RSPB, eventually catching up with the Least Sandpiper - a very small wader species from America and only the third record for the county - that was found several days ago but had become somewhat elusive at times. However, it eventually gave itself up today, showing well for lengthy periods, allowing me enough time to get back for some birding on the local patch!

The Least Sandpiper at Medmerry RSPB this morning

Barnham Brooks - Shripney/Lidsey area: With many areas now very dry, I decided to make another visit to this area where some flood water still exists - though for how much longer is anyone's guess. I was pleased to find two Green Sandpipers still present, and they had been joined today by two Little Ringed Plovers. Nearby, a Great White Egret was a surprise, before it eventually flew off eastwards. Wildfowl present included c.100 Teal, four Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, six Gadwall and 26 Mute Swans.

On the remaining flood this afternoon: Green Sandpiper (above), two Little Ringed Plovers (below) and Great White Egret (bottom two) 

2nd - 4th April 2025

Friday, 4th April: A bit cloudy at first, but otherwise another very dry, sunny and bright day, and feeling a little warmer with the E/SE wind somewhat lighter than of late.

Well, it's beginning to happen now, as spring starts to unfold with some interesting species appearing....

Yesterday evening, a report was received of a Short-eared Owl at Barnham Brooks (with thanks to Oliver Handson), whilst another report was received of potential breeding activity of Barn Owls in M-o-S parish. This morning, at Selsey Bill, an Alpine Swift was seen heading generally east, so I headed immediately to the local beach, just in case, though predictably there was no sign of the Swift!

Elmer Rocks: So, scanning constantly in the forlorn hope that the above Swift might appear, when soon after my arrival an Avocet flew east offshore  - at least some small compensation. Also logged on my half-hour visit were a Shelduck and two Sandwich Terns going east and a small flock of six Brent Geese on the sea.

Avocet flying east off Elmer Rocks

Barnham Brooks - Shripney/Lidsey area: A look around some of the still wet patches of the area produced a surprise gathering of five Green Sandpipers - surely newly arrived migrants - and also two Snipe, six Little Egrets, 18 Shoveler, 90+ Teal and six Gadwall. Two Blackcaps and a few Chiffchaffs were singing from the hedgerows.

Shovelers on the still remaining flooded area at Barnham Brooks

Wednesday, 2nd April:  Another dry, bright and sunny day with blue skies and a bit of scattered cloud, but also with a cool and persistent E/NE wind, blustery at times with gusts reaching force 5-6 or even 7.

Elmer Rocks: There was very little going on in the hour or so I visited, not helped by the dead low tide or the rasping easterly wind. A couple of Great Crested Grebes were on the sea, whilst two Mediterranean Gulls were around, together with a gathering of immature Herring Gulls and two Common Gulls. A few Oystercatchers and Turnstones were coming and going, but as it was so quiet I checked out the fields behind the beach. There was little here either, except for at least three Chiffchaffs, a couple of Chaffinches and Greenfinches and a pair of Buzzards, so I decided to cut my losses. In the end I opted to just stay very local and out of the wind where possible.

Elmer & Ancton: I decided on another look around the Lane End paddocks at Ancton, and the adjoining woods. I was pleased to finally connect with a couple of Swallows on the local patch, having not had a sniff of any hirundines at all locally in March. In the paddocks were two Pied Wagtails, a Mistle Thrush, two Song Thrushes...then another thrush-like bird lurking in shadows all the time, which eventually turned out to be a rather late Redwing; it will surely depart our shores soon. A male Kestrel put in an appearance over the paddocks for a short while, then directly overhead, on the edge of the adjacent woods, a pair of Buzzards were displaying for a while, before drifting off. Three Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap in the woods rounded off my visit.

Buzzards displaying over Ancton woods and (below) Redwing in the paddocks. This bird insisted on keeping in the shadows, thus I have had to adjust the gloomy photo to get any sort of usable image. It surely won't be long before it departs these shores for its breeding grounds.

29th - 31st March 2025

Monday, 31st March: Another bright, very dry and sunny day, with high pressure now well established and a light to moderate SE breeze, though still with a chilly edge along the coast.

Elmer Rocks: There was very little moving offshore this morning, though eventually a pair of Shovelers and a Little Egret flew east and a single Curlew went west, whilst two Mediterranean Gulls that were sat on the sea eventually also flew off west. Two Gannets fishing offshore for some while also drifted away in the latter direction, and a total of four Great Crested Grebes and two Red-breasted Mergansers were lingering offshore behind the rock islands.

Migrants were few, but a Pied/alba Wagtail arrived N from the sea, four Linnets went west and two or three Chiffchaffs were singing from hedgerows behind the beach. The best though was a total of three Wheatears; one around the Poole Place area and two together a little further east towards Atherington on the sea-ravaged 'cliffs' of Cudlow field.

Little Egret (above) passing Elmer Rocks and (lower two) newly-arrived Wheatears along the coast from Poole Place to Atherington

Elmer & Ancton: A look at the Lane End horse paddocks in Ancton produced yet another sighting of a Black Redstart - although this one seemed unusually elusive, giving just a few occasional glimpses as it favoured the hedgeline along the footpath leading from Sunnymead Close. Also present were the Mistle Thrush feeding in the paddocks, a Green Woodpecker, a Pied Wagtail and two singing Chiffchaffs.

Sunday, 30th March: A dry, bright and breezy day, with plenty of sunshine but also a fresh N/NW breeze 4-5, taking the edge off the temperature and giving a chilly feel at times.

Bilsham farm: Limited time available today, so a fairly brief visit hoping for a few new migrants, but alas it was all fairly quiet. There were a few things of interest though, with an obvious influx of Tufted Ducks which produced a count of 28, together with eight Mallard, 24 Coots and two Little Grebes. In the hedgerows were four singing Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and two Jays, whilst a pair of Buzzards were displaying, before one of them broke away to have a brief spat with a soaring Red Kite which drifted past.

Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir where numbers had increased to 28

Saturday, 29th March: A generally fine and sunny spring-like day after a cool start, but still with a chilly edge to the moderate W/SW wind force 4.

Elmer Rocks: There didn't seem to be much at all moving offshore, beyond a couple of Sandwich Terns heading west and six Mediterranean Gulls which eventually went east. On the sea were four Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Crested Grebes, but most of the action involved waders arriving to roost on the rock islands just before high tide, with some feeding along the beach. There were no less than 220 Turnstones today, plus 39 Oystercatchers and 18 Sanderlings amongst them.

I continued my circuit along the beach and then the fields behind, but on reaching the Poole Place rocks, up popped a Black Redstart, which almost immediately flew over to the fence and gardens of the large property there, before dropping down out of sight. This species is a scarce migrant in this part of the county, but the last few days have seen an above-average and very welcome showing at several sites on our patch. Other species seen included four Linnets on the beach, several Greenfinch and Long-tailed Tits, three singing Chiffchaffs and a single Goldcrest.

(above) Waders roosting on the rock island groynes around high tide; these are mainly Turnstones with some Sanderlings amongst them. Pre-migration gatherings tend to build up here at this time of year.

Sanderlings feeding along the beach (top two) and Turnstones feeding on the outfall pipe (below)

26th - 28th March 2025

Friday, 28th March: A grey and damp start with light rain for several hours and a moderate W/SW breeze, then becoming dry and bright with sunshine for the rest of the day.

Lidsey WTW: I was birding off the local patch again for most of the day, with just a short visit here on the way back. The only highlight here was a White Wagtail amongst three Pied Wagtails on the filter pans, whilst 14 Mallards were loafing on the flooded screening area within the works. Nearby were two Tufted Ducks, a dozen Teal and two Little Grebes. Around the hedgerows were at least four Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and two Cetti's Warblers.

Mallards sunning themselves near the sewage screening area within the WTW this afternoon!

Thursday, 27th March: Early morning mist and fog slowly cleared as the sun burnt through, giving a generally bright and sunny day with just a light SSW breeze, though becoming hazy again by afternoon as a light sea mist developed. 

Shripney & Lidsey: A visit to this edge of Barnham Brooks this morning produced a Green Sandpiper in a flooded area near the A259 road bridge and nearby a flock of c.10 Yellowhammers feeding on a set-aside area.

Another area, where a flooded field still exists, held some wildfowl, including 70 Teal, four Shoveler, ten Wigeon and a handful of Mallard, with at least 12 Lapwings displaying. A Red Kite also soared over, whilst a Buzzard and a Kestrel were also logged, and three Cetti's Warblers and two Chiffchaffs were singing.

Yellowhammer at Shripney - one of a flock of about ten feeding in a partly-flooded set-aside area.

Elmer & Ancton: A short visit found the Mistle Thrush again, with one Black Redstart still present in the paddocks and two Chiffchaffs were the only other migrants.

Mistle Thrush in the paddocks, together with a Black Redstart (below)

Wednesday, 26th March: After a rather cool and murky start, a bright and sunny spring-like day with a light S/SW breeze, with a bit of sea mist rolling in just occasionally...

I was birding off the patch for much of the morning when I headed over to Brooklands Lake at Lancing, in order to catch up with a county rarity - a Bluethroat - which was originally found yesterday by a birding friend (thanks to Dave Sadler). Judging by the number of photographers present with big lenses, there will be some fine photos around on social media and various birding sites - but my efforts will certainly not be amongst them!

Bluethroat (of the white-spotted form) at Brooklands, Lancing. A couple of cropped record shots that at least give the idea!

Bilsham farm: Having returned to the patch, after battling through the traffic, I decided to make a visit here. The reservoir held 15 Tufted Ducks - a few more than of late - and also four Gadwall, four Mallard and three Little Grebes. A circuit of the perimeter hedgerows also produced more than of late, the best being a Black Redstart, whilst the list of other species seen included 15 Redwings, two Chaffinch, a Yellowhammer, a Cetti's Warbler, four Chiffchaffs and my first Willow Warbler of the year.

Black Redstart at Bilsham Farm

Elmer & Ancton: Another visit to the Lane End horse paddocks produced two female-type Black Redstarts and there has clearly been a fall recently (for non-birders = migratory influx). A Mistle Thrush was singing and feeding in the paddocks - and is possibly even nesting nearby - whilst a pair of Pied Wagtails also looks a good bet. Other species logged included a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Green Woodpecker, a couple of Song Thrushes and a Buzzard.

(above) Mistle Thrush and (below) Black Redstart at the Lane End paddocks